Australia
Export Controls & Sanctions
Dual-use exports go through the Defence Export Controls office, and permits take weeks when the goods sit near the threshold. Canberra also runs its own sanctions on top of UN lists, so screening has to cover both.
Brazil
Trade Compliance & Import Controls
Getting goods into Brazil means SISCOMEX licenses for anything controlled, plus COAF and Central Bank screening on the export side. Mercosur's Common External Tariff sets the duty baseline, but exceptions pile up fast.
Canada
Export Permits & Tariff Compliance
The Area Control List blocks entire destinations outright. Everything else falls under the Export and Import Permits Act. CUSMA rules of origin and the retaliatory tariff rounds keep landed-cost math interesting.
China
Tariffs, Entity List & Export Controls
Section 301 tariffs hit up to 145% on some goods, and the BIS Entity List keeps growing. Exporters deal with dual-use checks, end-user verification, and military end-use screening before anything ships.
Cuba
Comprehensive Sanctions & Embargo
A near-total U.S. embargo under OFAC's Cuba Assets Control Regulations. Most exports need a specific license, financial transactions are heavily restricted, and even permitted shipments require careful documentation.
European Union
Dual-Use Regulation & Customs Union
Regulation 2021/821 covers dual-use across all member states, and the consolidated sanctions list updates through Official Journal publications. One Common External Tariff at the border, but national licensing adds another layer.
India
SCOMET Controls & Import Duties
The SCOMET list covers chemicals, organisms, materials, equipment, and technology. On the import side, duties stack: basic customs duty, IGST, and anti-dumping measures on specific product lines. Classification disputes are common.
Iran
Comprehensive Sanctions & Restrictions
Multiple OFAC programs plus EU restrictive measures. Nearly every export requires specific authorization, and secondary sanctions reach non-U.S. persons too. Even compliance-adjacent activities need legal review.
Japan
Export Controls & Trade Security
Catch-all controls under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, plus end-user lists for weapons-related concerns. The recent semiconductor export restrictions added a whole new set of screening requirements for advanced tech.
Mexico
USMCA Compliance & Customs
USMCA rules of origin have specific carve-outs for automotive, steel, and agricultural goods. Mexican customs require pedimentos for all commercial shipments, and import permits apply to a longer list of goods than most expect.
North Korea
Total Embargo & UN Sanctions
The most heavily sanctioned country in the world. Comprehensive UN Security Council measures, OFAC restrictions, and EU autonomous sanctions. Virtually nothing moves without explicit authorization, and even that is rare.
Russia
Sanctions, Export Controls & Restrictions
OFAC, EU, and UK sanctions expanded sharply after 2022. Controls cover technology, industrial equipment, luxury goods, and energy-sector services. The carve-outs and general licenses shift frequently enough to require constant monitoring.
Singapore
Strategic Goods Controls & Trade Hub
The Strategic Goods (Control) Act requires permits for dual-use items. As a major transshipment hub, diversion risk gets extra scrutiny from regulators, and end-use checks carry more weight than in most jurisdictions.
South Korea
Strategic Trade Controls & FTAs
MOTIE handles strategic trade controls with catch-all provisions for WMD-related items. A broad FTA network affects tariff rates depending on origin, and semiconductor controls added another compliance layer in recent years.
Taiwan
Export Controls & Tariff Compliance
BOFT licensing covers strategic high-tech exports, and end-user certificates are required for sensitive technology. U.S. semiconductor restrictions have added compliance steps for anything touching advanced chip transactions.
United Kingdom
Post-Brexit Controls & ECJU Licensing
Post-Brexit, the UK runs its own export controls through ECJU and its own sanctions list through OFSI. Customs declarations, rules of origin, and the UK Global Tariff all replaced EU-era frameworks, and the transition is still settling.
United States
EAR, ITAR & OFAC Compliance
BIS handles the EAR, DDTC handles ITAR, OFAC handles sanctions. On the import side: HTS classification, Section 301 and 232 tariffs, AD/CVD duties, and CBP enforcement. Most SMB exporters underestimate how many of these apply to them.
Venezuela
Sectoral Sanctions & Restrictions
Sectoral sanctions target oil, gold, and financial services under multiple executive orders. OFAC general licenses allow limited humanitarian trade, but anything commercial needs specific authorization, and the license scope keeps shifting.